[Ketamine and analgesia during labor]

Ketamine, owing to the numerous contraindications in pregnant women, gives selective childbirth analgesis. The results obtained in 80 cases of analgesia (60 treated in dilatation period and 20 during expulsion) are reported. The drug's absolute non-toxicity (as observed in quoted experimental studies) together with the labour response and effects on the foetus and mother (tested in most cases with cardiotocography and haemogasanalysis) suggest that ketamine is useful in obstetric analgesia.